Football: What we learned from the Cyclones’ offensive line this spring

Wednesday

Apr 19, 2017 at 6:40 PMApr 19, 2017 at 9:37 PM

Joseph Hoyt Staff Writer jhoyt@amestrib.com

For five weeks and 15 practices, everybody heard all about how well the Iowa State football team was progressing. In that time, the Iowa State media was on-hand to watch only an hour of the first practice.

There were questions to be answered at the annual spring game. Now that the game is in the past, we have some answers and a better look at the team heading into summer.

In the next couple of weeks, The Ames Tribune will take a position-by-position look at what we learned from the Cyclones leaving spring and heading into the summer. Today, we’ll look at the offensive line.

Surprises certified themselves this spring

Oge Udeogu redshirted his first season with ISU after spending two seasons at the City College of San Francisco. In that time, he progressed and improved, but it happened on an incremental tempo, according to offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Tom Manning.

This spring, Manning saw Udeogu speed up the learning process.

“We’re starting to see more of what his potential and what his talent is,” Manning said. “He’s been a great player to watch the past couple of weeks.”

After a solid spring, Udeogu appears to be one of the candidates to start at guard when the Cyclones open against Northern Iowa on Sept. 2. He went wire-to-wire this spring as the starter at right guard. Senior Robby Garcia did the same thing at the other guard spot.

Udeogu’s improvement provided a pleasant surprise for the Cyclones coaching staff, but he wasn’t the only one. Redshirt sophomore Bryce Meeker certified himself as someone capable of playing on an offensive line in need of depth.

Meeker — who started one game last season — Julian Good-Jones and Jake Campos, are the only offensive linemen on the Cyclones’ roster who have started a game at ISU.

At the end of spring, the Cyclones had Meeker starting at right tackle instead of Campos, who the coaches are easing back into play after he missed all of last season with a broken leg. Regardless of Campos’ status, knowing Meeker can play is a welcome sight for ISU’s coaching staff.

“It gives you the ability to maybe deal with injury,” ISU head coach Matt Campbell said. “Injuries will happen. We know that. It gives us some more depth across the board because we can move some guys around.”

Speaking of versatility

Good-Jones, as a redshirt sophomore, started 11 games at right tackle for the Cyclones last year. This spring, though, he spent the entire time as the team’s starting center, replacing Brian Bobek, who snapped the entirety of last year.

Campbell said there’s a lot to expect from Good-Jones, who finds himself as an offensive line veteran.

“When you have high expectations — there’s been a lot put on his plate, but (it’s) a credit to his athletic ability and also his football ability to line up in multiple positions and play,” Campbell said. “He’s a great asset for us and a guy who can do a lot of things.”

Cyclones will take their time with Campos

Campos didn’t suit up for the spring game, and with less than five months to go before the start of the season, that’s probably a smart thing.

“Jake is really a hard-working kid,” Manning said after the team’s second scrimmage, which Campos also sat out. “If you let him, he would’ve loved to rock and roll as much as anybody, but I think we have to be really smart with his progression coming back, and you certainly don’t want to lose a really good asset to your football program in practice.”

For 20 of his 23 career starts, Campos played left tackle. This year, though, the senior could be making the move back to right tackle. The coaches still need to find out just how mobile he is.

“I think that’s a big piece we have to figure out with him,” Manning said.

Sean Foster is the present and future at left tackle

Manning was very upfront last year with Sean Foster.

“As far as conversation goes,” Manning said, “I told him I’d rather play (him) too late than too early.”

Foster redshirted, even though he might’ve been ready as a true freshman. Now, the Cyclones are ready to roll him out. This spring, the 6-foot-8, 300-pound redshirt freshman started the entire time at left tackle. It looks like it’s a spot he’s got a firm grasp on it.

Still a lot of new faces coming in

Multiple coaches have mentioned the importance of rebuilding ISU through its interior, which meant bringing in a lot of linemen for the imminent future. The Cyclones accomplished that this recruiting cycle, signing five offensive lineman.

ISU might not need them this year, but with two projected starters — as of now — in Campos and Garcia set to graduate, they’ll have plenty of ammo to retool those spots.

The Cyclones also have Michigan graduate-transfer Dave Dawson set to join the team this summer.